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Ryan, Falcons still struggling in red zone

By WTOP Staff

GEORGE HENRY
Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Quarterback Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons have improved their red zone efficiency, statistically speaking, from last year.

But Sunday’s 10-point loss at the New York Giants showed that the offense is still flawed when advancing to the 20-yard line.

The Falcons (2-3) began the game ranked second in NFL red zone efficiency, but two first-half drives to the 2-yard line resulted in a pair of field goals.

Ryan stated the obvious, that the offense wasn’t “as efficient as we needed to be in the red zone.”

And coach Mike Smith says he has “all the confidence in the world” that Atlanta’s personnel and schemes are sound enough to score touchdowns.

Maybe so, but in losing 10 of 11 on the road, red zone problems are still a big concern. The offense looked more like the unit that finished last year’s 4-12 season ranked No. 22 inside the opponents’ 20.

“We had four or five snaps inside the 3-yard line during the ballgame,” Smith said. “When you have those, you’ve got to make people pay. You’ve got to score touchdowns when you’re down there.”

That’s easier said than done, particularly behind an offensive line that had a new starter at left guard for the first time in 102 games as Harland Gunn replaced Justin Blalock.

In preparing to host the Chicago Bears (2-3) this weekend, the Falcons hope that Blalock will return from a back injury. The line lost starting center Joe Hawley and starting tackles Sam Baker and Lamar Holmes to season-ending injuries last month.

Peter Konz, who started at center for the first time since last year’s blowout home loss to Seattle in Week 10, thought the line, as a unit, played better than some had expected.

Ryan was only sacked once, but that came on a fourth-and-1 and ended with a 9-yard loss to the Atlanta 19, setting up the Giants’ final score.

“There’s a lot of technique stuff and a few mental errors that we have to correct,” Konz said. “If we do that, some of the choppiness that we felt during the game will be cleaned up.”

Receiver Roddy White lamented a missed block on second-and-goal from the 2 that allowed Mike Patterson and Johnathan Hankins to tackle running back Steven Jackson for a 2-yard loss.

On the next play, Antone Smith was stopped 3 yard short after catching a shovel pass.

“We had some good red zone calls,” White said. “We had one play where we blocked it wrong, but that’s all stuff that you can fix. You’ve just got to go out there and get those guys on the ground and it’s a walk-in touchdown. It’s just little assignments and things we’ve got to correct and we’ll be fine.”

Two possessions later, Ryan threw incomplete passes from the 2 on misfires to White and Jacquizz Rodgers.

Other than Smith’s 74-yard touchdown catch midway through the third quarter — putting the Falcons up by 10 points — the second half was essentially a disaster.

Atlanta finished the game just 2 for 13 on third-down chances, 1 for 8 in the last two quarters.

“When you’re going against a good football team on the road, you’ve got to take advantage of those opportunities, but it is disappointing,” Ryan said. “We had a lead in the second half and we weren’t able to get the job done offensively when we needed to.”

Mike Smith, as he did several times during last year’s meltdown, put the blame of the offense’s problems on himself.

“Ultimately, there’s one person who’s held responsible for the outcome of the football game and that’s me,” he said. “We’ve got to do a better job of putting our guys in the position and when the opportunities come up, we’ve got to be putting our guys in better situations.”

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AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow George Henry at www.twitter.com/georgehenryAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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